Dress Code

Dress code seems to be a recurring theme in our blog and Astronology but this Amy Joyce article has a little bit of a different tone: click here

From the Washington Post, an article about backers pushing for a genetic nondiscrimination bill: click here

Also from the Washington Post, a story about the democratic presidential candidates and how labor and liberalism are affected by them: click here

Minimum Wage and the rest

Minimum Wage is a big topic for this Astronology Tuesday so we'll dive right into it:

First, word from the Washington Post that the Senate cleared way for the minimum wage vote: click here


Also from the Washington Post, an article that examines the maverick Costco CEO who joined the push to increase the minimum wage: click here

High Tech AND High Price?

Salaries rose and demand grew in the IT market this past year according to this article that was published in TechNewsWorld: click here

Information from a seminar on the responsiblities of employers hiring illegal immigrants: click here

Lastly, from Benefitnews.com, word that gambling problems are prevalent in the workplace: click here

Life and Work

The Boston Globe in this piece says that it will not ruin you in the balance for a life and work: click here

Word also from the Globe of an investment made in the past that paid off in the future for one person: click here

Lastly, advice that the best leaders form mutual respect: click here

What's Going On in 2007?

First, news of the Human Resources trends of 2007 that Human Resources professionals should be aware of: click here

Next, word of the slowing growth in the February job market of 2007: click here

Lastly, the word of advice to resolve organizational issues in the new year and tips on how to do so: click here

Jeter or Brady?

Rule Boston or rule New York? Tough choice...we lean towards New York, but we're going to give you 2 great Boston articles on this Two for Tuesday:

First, advice that social fumblers should e-mail more and interact less: click here

And, lastly, word that admonishment still stings for an employee, no matter how nice or correct the boss and no matter what the age of the employee: click here

Advising You

Sometimes people come to HR for advice, but where does HR turn?

One thing that Human Resources sometimes has to explain to employees are noncompete clauses in contracts, but few know much about them...the New York Times explains here: click here

Also from the New York Times, word about how small businesses get bigger and how they're getting help in New York: click here

Professional certification is an issue that Human Resources professionals should not only know about for people applying, but should know about for themselves to attain before looking for jobs according to the Providence Business News: click here

We're Going Around The World

First, word that Asian firms are giving human resources more responsibility in the organization's operations: click here

The salary surge in China is expected to continue in the next year: click here

Lastly, from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, an article about the challenges for working parents to find backup child care: click here

Who Pays?

The questions is always out there in any profession, but definitely when labor and management get together for negotiations, and definitely when it comes to protection and who pays for the worker's protection, as covered by the Washington Post: click here

The Boston Globe writes that both workers and Human Resources could benefit from talking about what went wrong when someone gets fired: click here

Lastly, also from the Boston Globe, a story about how MTV has aquired a professor-rating Website...imagine if they had that for all employees: click here

The blog of the blogs

Sometimes the best blogs check out what's in the other blogs on the internet...

First, from Careerbuilder.com's blog, tips from HR Managers on how to improve your resume: click here

Next, from the Business Times blog, word that the transformation of the HR process has gathered pace: click here

And, lastly, from the Business Toolkit Blog, word about the skill gap facing Human Resources: click here

We're Going Real Big On This Astronology Tuesday

We're going really big with double the articles on this Astronology Tuesday..

First, from the Society of Human Resources Mangement (SHRM), an article about the steady increase seen for time off on MLK day: click here

InsuranceNews says that 401(K) statements now come with a word of advice: click here

On that track, About.com asks if you're getting the best benefit from your benefits: click here

Lastly, from the New York Times, a story about one woman's use of a company grant to pursue her own goals: click here

Managing the Cold

Throughout the Midwest and Northeast, residents are trying to manage the cold...

Which is a lot like the task of management trying to manage needy employees, according to Amy Joyce: click here

According to the Boston Globe, little rituals in the workday for employees help to save time and build ties: click here

And, lastly, a Q&A which says that skirting recruiters is OK, but really may not be in the best interest of the job seeker: click here

Heading back to Boston

I'm going to Boston so I figured I'd scour the Boston Globe for some great articles for your Friday evening...

First, word that the state's best fields such as biotech and health are likely to get even better: click here

An old Q&A about immigration law from HR experts: click here

A new Q&A about many things including alcohol consumption at holiday events: click here

Tell Me About Yourself

Tell Me About Yourself may be the most popular interview question asked by recruiters but it may be a lot more important than one might think, according to the Boston Globe: click here

Human Resources executives, according to this article, are worried about online recruitment candidates cheating on online tests: click here

Lastly, our Canadian neighbors at Globe and Mail tell us that there may be a little bit of a generation gap between Baby Boomers and those Generation X'ers: click here

Oldies but Goodies

Going through some leftover HR articles on this humpday, we found some good information for you here at Astron Solutions:

First, the question is asked: Where did the Human in Human Resources go? click here

Next, from Newsday, an article that shows that some employers' benifits go way beyond the normal...even to pet insurance: click here

And lastly, an article that says that women are being sent on a record number of international assignments: click here

Resumes on 2 for Tuesday

First, from Amy Joyce, word that persistence can help rescue lost resumes: click here

And from the Boston Globe, more news on costly resume errors: click here

Heat Wave...in January...

If you think that this weather has been strange...check out this headline: click here

I mean I know that there are commercials with monkeys and other animals working in offices...but please...(just kidding...and there is good HR stuff down below)

As we reported on our blog and in Astronology, more and more firms are doing background checks: click here

And there will now be no more Christmas party for Kane employees...sorry guys: click here

How To Be Happy At Work

Maybe we can all take something from the Danish system of business which not only produces the happiest country on earth (according to a Reuters survey over the summer), but now the happiest workers on earth: click here

Next from FedSmith.com we have a two-part series asking: In Human Resources We Trust?

Part 1: click here

Part 2: click here

Not Just Salary

75 % of employees are looking for new jobs, but not all because of salary. Workers also want career opportunity, career development and life/work balance according to this article by Long Island Business News: click here

From the Bradenton Herald, an article that says that ADHD can bring self-doubt to employees: click here

Lastly, an article about Customization 2.0, an interesting concept: click here

Low G.P.A. On Your C.V. May Leave The Offers M.I.A.

First, from the New York Times, an article that says that low grades in college may stop offers from coming: click here

Next, from the Boston Globe, an advice column that teaches management how to stay out of court: click here

Also from the Boston Globe, an article that says to slow down, you're moving too fast: click here

Happy New Year

The first blog of the New Year coincides with the first Astronology of the New Year which means you get a double treat on many people's first day back to work.

And it's two for Tuesday so we decided to go back and see two articles that revist old Astronology topics...

First, Amy Joyce goes through her top resume bloopers...sounds familiar: click here

Next is from the Washington Post and goes over bad bosses and some of the things they do (including not keeping their word): click here